Keeping My Future Pugs Mentally Stimulated

[Queen Maeby]

I'm planning to titre test in place of vaccinating, so I won't be able to take my future Pugs to obedience training...

How can I keep them mentally stimulated (I'm planning on having four Pugs and I don't want them to go stir-crazy)? I've heard of crate games and puzzle games, and I've bought a book called Control Unleashed: The Puppy Program.

Is this the best forum to find out about these things? If I read through the threads should I find stuff like that? Or should I be looking at specific websites? If so, I would be grateful for any recommendations :)

Also, because there will be four of them, is that enough socialisation for them? Or should I organise regular play dates with other well-behaved dogs?

Edited June 24, 2014 by Queen Maeby

[Queen Maeby]

I've found a private dog trainer who is willing to come to my house with her well-behaved dogs, and she has no problem with titre testing. So I will try that and see how I go :)

Edited June 24, 2014 by Queen Maeby

[Diva]

some clubs accept titre testing

[Queen Maeby]

My local one won't because you can't titre test for Kennel Cough; only Parvo, Hepatitis and Distemper.

[Bjelkier]

I don't have play dates with my dogs and they're just fine, and they're a working breed. I've also never bothered with puppy classes, I think it's a waste of money. I know how to train a dog.

Take the pup for walks, train at home or when you're out walking and play a few simple games at home. I really don't think a toy breed would need more than that, my Havanese certainly don't.

[Queen Maeby]

I don't have play dates with my dogs and they're just fine, and they're a working breed. I've also never bothered with puppy classes, I think it's a waste of money. I know how to train a dog.

Take the pup for walks, train at home or when you're out walking and play a few simple games at home. I really don't think a toy breed would need more than that, my Havanese certainly don't.

Okay, that's good to know. Thank you :)

[teekay]

I was wondering about this. Do obedience clubs ask to see vaccination cards each year or just when you join? When Luka joined the local club I showed them his card but I left before the year was up (didn't like their punishment based practices) so don't know how efficient they are at checking whether the dogs are up to date.

The small private club I go to now is fine with titres.

Will your pup just have the puppy vacs Maeby or the 1 year booster as well, before you start testing? Depending on that they could join an obedience club for the initial training maybe?

[Queen Maeby]

I was wondering about this. Do obedience clubs ask to see vaccination cards each year or just when you join? When Luka joined the local club I showed them his card but I left before the year was up (didn't like their punishment based practices) so don't know how efficient they are at checking whether the dogs are up to date.

The small private club I go to now is fine with titres.

Will your pup just have the puppy vacs Maeby or the 1 year booster as well, before you start testing? Depending on that they could join an obedience club for the initial training maybe?

I'm not sure about your first question, sorry :)

He will just have the puppy vaccinations, not the booster (unless a titre test says he needs it). I'm not giving him unnecessary vaccinations just for obedience.

The problem is my local club won't accept him without a Kennel Cough vaccination. The woman couldn't understand why there is no titre test for it

And I don't think vets give Kennel Cough vaccinations to puppies, do they? I didn't think they did that unless you asked for it (because the immunity is only temporary).

Edited June 24, 2014 by Queen Maeby

[Queen Maeby]

I don't mind not going to obedience; it looks like a pretty crappy club anyway and most of the dogs there are working dogs. Grover had problems with dogs like that in the past at dog training... I don't know why, maybe they misinterpreted his Puggie behaviour? They barked at him the whole time. It wasn't much fun.

Edited June 24, 2014 by Queen Maeby

[MouseR]

Vets do give puppies (and all dogs for that matter) canine cough vaccinations. If you look at your puppy vaccinations the C3 is the parvo etc and the C5 is the bordetella and canine cough booster. The immunity last for 12 months apparently but my girl got canine cough even after vaccinating so I don't bother with it anymore.

Is there another club you can go to as I know of plenty of clubs that accept titre tests?

[MouseR]

Should add that I also have a working breed and while we do go to obedience, if we miss a week then training at home as well as his food puzzles and his walks and games of tug keep his mind stimulated enough. If that keeps a BC happy I'm sure it will keep a pug happy :)